Why Can’t I Be You is one of my favourites by The Cure and has an ambivalent influence on my mood – it can always make me both happy and sad. It is quite easy going compared to some other songs by The Cure – and you cannot be mad at a song beginning ”You’re so gorgeous I’ll do anything”. But the song is also a bit sad to me because it makes me think that other people have a better life than I have – hence Why Can’t I Be You. But my life is not that bad so no need to complain it is just my brain plying with me!
Why Can’t I Be You by The Cure can be found on the album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.
Take a look at the music video if you dare to see The Cure dressed out as a bear, zebra, Dracula, lips!!! and more. I try avoiding this video simple because these costumes do not match my image of how The Cure look like. But that is of course just I.
Highest chart position: #21 at UK Singles Chart and #54 at Billboard Hot 100.
I remember my sister bringing home Live It Up by Mental As Anything on a 45” single. She had heard it in the Crocodile Dundee movie and played it out loud on repeat. This meant that I also had to listen to it! And soon I was as hooked as my sister with this great and to me happy song. So there we were two teens shouting (would not call it singing) the lyrics the best we could.
In 2012 I attended a Leonard Cohen concert. I did not know that many songs by him but I knew First We Take Manhattan which I liked. My girlfriend and I just went to the concert because two colleges cancelled two days before and we got their tickets. OH LA LA what a night. Going to the concert without any expectations at all and going home with one of the very best concert memories of my life. Totally fantastic evening with Leonard Cohen meeting the audience in the sunset like a gentleman holding his characteristic hat to his chest to greet the audience and saluting the musicians on stage. At this time Leonard Cohen was not a young man running around the stage (doubt that he has ever done that) but he does not have to. Cohen has that something special that just drags the audience to him and maintain a so special feeling though his songwriting and his lovely voice. So when the three hour concert was over I was totally blown away because I had not seen this coming – I have been to many concerts in my life but this was truly a special one. My feelings were all over from very emotional to excited to disbelieve in what I just had seen. From that day I was a fan of Leonard Cohen and monday morning I was at the local record store when it opened to get some Leonard Cohen CDs. Actually there where so many great songs that I did not find First We Take Manhattan the very best – it was overtaken by songs like Take This Waltz, Closing Time and Alexandra Leaving among others. So if You are like I was and only knew First We Take Manhattan I can highly recommend that You spend some time to explore the universe of Leonard Cohen.
Jack & Diane is John Cougar Mellencamp’s biggest hit I guess and by many considered to be a classic rock song. I came to know John Cougar Mellencamp on his later album Scarecrow and therefore looked at the earlier work which led me to Jack & Diane. I like the lyrics for Jack & Diane taken place in the ‘heartland’ with ‘ chilli dogs’ and the young loving couple. Great song with a characteristic guitar intro and a classic rock song in my house!
Burning Down The House by Talking Heads is a classic rock song from the 1980s. This is probably the biggest Talking Heads hit from a very creative part of their career. Coming from the album Speaking In Tongues the Talking Heads had really find an artistic goldmine. To me this is standing out as a classic rock album that I can always listen to with pleasure. Burning Down The House being on this album makes perfect sense to me because I have no idea what the song is about – so Speaking In Tongues is the right place.
Forever Young by Alphaville has followed me for many years. Not because I have any intentions of being forever young but I think it is a nice popsong which sound a little melancholic to me. At release I did not know it. I first head it when I was in high school but went strait out to bye it.